In this episode of the Champion Secrets Podcast, Christian Honer sits down with Olympian Carsten Vissering to discuss the mindset, journey, and unexpected path that led him from NCAA swimming champion to Olympic bobsled athlete. Carsten was a five-time All-American swimmer at USC and an NCAA Champion before discovering a new passion for explosive training in the weight room. That passion eventually led him to pursue bobsled — and ultimately compete at the Winter Olympics. But the story isn’t just about athletic success. Carsten shares powerful insights about: • Why loving the process matters more than chasing outcomes • The mental challenges athletes face at the highest level • Why burnout is so common in elite sports • How balancing career, relationships, and athletics improves performance • What athletes can learn from pursuing purpose beyond their sport One of the most powerful lessons from Carsten’s journey: “Don’t build your life around the sport. Build your life — and let the sport be part of it.” Carsten also shares what it’s like competing in a sport where Olympic dreams can be decided by milliseconds, injuries, or circumstances outside of your control — and how staying grounded in the process helps athletes perform at their best. In This Episode • The transition from NCAA swimming to Olympic bobsled • Why Carsten walked away from Olympic swimming • How loving training changed his career • Managing pressure at the Olympic level • Balancing a corporate career while competing professionally • The mindset behind elite performance About Carsten Vissering Carsten Vissering is: • NCAA Champion swimmer (USC) • Five-time All-American • Pac-12 Champion • Olympic bobsled athlete Outside of sport, Carsten works in consulting while continuing to train and pursue Olympic success. 👍 Subscribe for more conversations with world-class athletes 🎙️ New Champion Secrets episodes every week